If the Emperor were assassinated and Franz Ferdinand ascended the throne, reforms would accelerate; however, if Archduke Karl were removed, the force that could have kept Ferdinand in check would cease to exist.
To the outside world, it was only a matter of time before Archduke Karl and Franz Ferdinand clashed. This reform plan would inevitably touch the fundamental interests of the vested interest groups in Austria and Hungary, and these people were Archduke Karl's staunchest supporters.
For this reason, the priority of the Emperor and Archduke Karl on the assassination list continued to drop, while Franz Ferdinand became the undisputed number one target.
Once the Empire transformed into a federal state that granted equal sovereignty to all ethnicities, Serbia would completely lose its appeal.
If the heir is willing to grant equal rights and treat you as a member of the Empire, who would be foolish enough to tie themselves to a poor, backward, small rural country?
Therefore, the Black Hand would never let Franz Ferdinand off as he prepared to visit Sarajevo.
“That cannot be a reason to cancel the itinerary.”
...
What exactly had he just heard?
Franz Ferdinand’s overly composed tone gave Karl a splitting headache.
Had he not explained it clearly enough just now? Unlikely. Karl had always been confident in his ability to express himself.
Furthermore, it was precisely because of the Sarajevo incident that he had made meticulous preparations for everything that followed.
If Franz Ferdinand lived and the course of history changed, he would also suffer significant losses. But none of that mattered. Because they were family.
They had confirmed their goals and will to each other in Trieste, and since then, Franz Ferdinand had continuously helped Karl exert influence in imperial politics.
How could Karl stand by and watch such a person go to his death?
Moreover, for the sake of the Empire, Franz Ferdinand had to live. As long as he pushed through the imperial reorganization plan with Karl's support from behind, they would surely achieve results.
That was not a fantasy. The multi-ethnic Empire had long been burdened by deep-seated problems; if it didn't reform, it would eventually collapse in the flames of nationalism.
It was with such feelings that Karl suggested avoiding the danger as much as possible, yet Franz Ferdinand refused?
“Was I too complicated? Assassination plots against you, Uncle, have already been discovered. The actors are a nationalist organization called Young Bosnia and the Serbian Black Hand. They are transporting weapons along the border. Hasn't your entire itinerary been made public? This is truly too dangerous.”
“I understand everything.”
“Then what you meant just now is that the trip cannot be canceled?”
“Karl, Sarajevo is the territory of the Empire.”
“It is right next to Serbia, and there are a large number of ethnic Serbs within Bosnia; that makes it even more dangerous.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
For the first time, Franz Ferdinand showed an expression of impatience toward Karl.
From childhood to now, no one had ever dared to show such a look to Karl. Now, Franz Ferdinand actually found him to be a nuisance?
But having clearly identified the danger, shouldn't they discuss countermeasures next?
“Karl, this review isn't just about looking at the troops, is it?”
“...Yes.”
If the heir to the throne only wanted to check military discipline, there was no need to go in person; sending any general would have been enough.
“It hasn't been long since Bosnia was officially incorporated into the Empire. Someone must go in person to let everyone see clearly who rules this land and who is in control.”
Karl was speechless for a moment. This made him seem like a child who only knew how to be anxious.
Ultimately, holding a public review in Sarajevo meant accepting all the risks.
Neither Franz Ferdinand nor the Emperor could be that stupid. They did it because the benefits outweighed the risks. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a state maintained by gunpoint and hatred; the ruler's presence was itself a part of their authority.
“The news of my visit to Sarajevo has already been spread with great fanfare. In this situation, to run away because of danger? Karl, don't forget that we are members of the Habsburg Family.”
Even though Franz Ferdinand loathed this family more than anyone, he never forgot his responsibility as a member of the royalty.
It was because of this responsibility that he endured criticism among the nauseating vested interest classes while shouting for imperial reform. Those people feared change and losing their privileges, yet they didn't dare to openly oppose the heir to the throne.
Karl wanted to ask him back if that bit of pathetic pride was really that important. But as it turned out, it was indeed unexpectedly important.
What maintained this Empire was the Habsburgs; once the family's prestige was shaken, the Empire itself would follow suit.
Was this just an obsession of the Habsburg Family? Of course not. Looking across all of Europe, royals knew they were constantly exposed to the guns of nationalists, radical leftists, and anarchists, yet they still chose to face the threats and never flee. The Tsar of Russia, the King of Italy, the Monarch of Spain—all were the same.
Was it only the royalty who bore such risks? High-ranking imperial officials were the same. In fact, the former Governor of Bosnia had nearly died in an assassination attempt. In such an environment, if the royalty were too afraid to show their faces, they would only become a laughingstock.
Even if they felt fear in their hearts, the royalty of this era had to act as if nothing were wrong. Only then could they rule over populations of millions.
The flames of nationalism burned brightly, yet the Empire still existed precisely because of this.
...
In the end, Karl could not overcome Franz Ferdinand's stubbornness and was instead persuaded by him.
Unknowingly, he seemed to have been soaked in the air of the 20th Century and the heavy traditions of the Habsburg Family. After all, Karl was a person who had lived as royalty for over twenty years.
In any case, relying solely on royal honor and prestige, wanting to cancel this trip was itself a near impossibility.
Even if Karl made a huge scene over it, the result would only be to squander all the prestige he had accumulated over the years, and he might even be kicked out of the core of power by a cold remark from the Emperor: “Karl, it seems you are not suited to sit in the cabinet meetings.”
With the trip proceeding as planned, Franz Ferdinand might still ultimately die in Sarajevo.
On the surface, this Balkan city was newly annexed territory of the Empire, but in reality, there were surging undercurrents. Ever since Austria-Hungary gradually took control of Bosnia after the Berlin Conference, nationalism and separatist sentiments had never truly quieted down.
But even so, he couldn't just watch him go to his death.